Dundee solar facility will be done Dec. 31

DUNDEE—The village of Dundee will be overseeing the construction of a solar power facility after the village received a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Mayor Fred Cratsley Jr. announced the awarded grant during the village board meeting Tuesday, April 9. He said the solar facility would power the village’s 13 municipal meters and the cost savings to village residents and the community would amount to $174,000.Village Clerk Christine Sutherland said Jordan Energy will be installing the facility as well as performing maintenance work on the site for the first 30 years. During this time, the village will also be paying a usage rate to Jordan for the energy provided by the site until the village takes over ownership of the facility for a cost of $1 after that 30 year timeframe. Sutherland said the total project cost is $4,625,320 across the four participating municipalities, which also includes Perry, Medina and Scottsville. Cratsley said during a previous meeting the cost for the Dundee facility would be $850,000. However, Sutherland said when the village was contacted by NYSERDA, they were told Perry was not accepted. Sutherland said she did not know if the exclusion of Perry changes the total project cost because nothing comes through the village, they are just letting the facility be constructed on village property between the water treatment plant and the treatment pond on Dundee-Glenora Road. She said she does not currently have any plans on how large the installation will be or what it will look like.Sutherland said the village is currently in the initial stages of the contract, with purchase power and lease agreements currently being sent to the village attorney. She said once the village is done with the current phase then work can begin on the site. Sutherland said the work on the site has to be completed by Dec. 31, 2013.